Chapter 45: The Good Person
When Jiang Li went to Mingyi Hall, she only brought Bai Xue as her maid.
Although the students at Mingyi Hall were all young ladies from official and noble families, the discipline was strict. If she hadn't interacted with the teachers at Mingyi Hall when she was married to Shen Yurong, she would probably know nothing about it now and would have made many embarrassing mistakes.
Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yu'e must have deliberately wanted to see Jiang Li make a fool of herself, which was why they hadn't explained anything. When Jiang Li and Bai Xue boarded the carriage, Tong'er said reluctantly, "Miss, please come back early."
Tong'er and Jiang Li had been almost inseparable during those eight years at Qingcheng Mountain. At that time, Jiang Li only had Tong'er as her maid. Now that Jiang Li had more servants around her, Tong'er felt somewhat left out, and Jiang Li had to comfort her for a while.
Although bringing Bai Xue to Mingyi Hall would surely invite ridicule from others when they saw Jiang Li accompanied by such a clumsy, tall maid, appearances could be deceiving. While Bai Xue wasn't as pleasing in appearance as other maids, she possessed extraordinary strength. Since her rebirth, Jiang Li often wondered: if she had some martial skills, would she have managed to escape that day instead of meeting a tragic end?
However, martial arts couldn't be mastered overnight. Moreover, the Jiang family was a lineage of civil officials, and Jiang Li was a young lady—there was no reason for her to learn martial arts. Besides, she estimated that this body wasn't particularly suited for martial training, so she dismissed the idea.
Since she couldn't practice martial arts herself, having a strong maid would at least increase her chances of survival. Jiang Li knew that only by staying alive could there be hope. Any measure that gave her even a slight advantage in staying alive might prove crucial when the time came.
While Jiang Li and Bai Xue were on their way to Mingyi Hall, Jiang Youyao and the other two had already arrived earlier.
Previously, Jiang Youyao wouldn't travel together with Jiang Yu'e and Jiang Yuyan since they were from the third branch of the family, whom Jiang Youyao looked down upon from the bottom of her heart. However, Jiang Yu'e was sweet-tongued and skilled at flattering her, so Jiang Youyao occasionally treated her kindly.
Today, to provoke Jiang Li, Jiang Youyao rode in the same carriage with Jiang Yu'e and Jiang Yuyan for the first time. This unusual arrangement didn't go unnoticed by others at Mingyi Hall.
"Youyao," a young woman in pink at the entrance looked behind her and asked curiously, "Isn't your family's Second Miss supposed to start studying here today too? Why don't we see her? Didn't you come together?Before Jiang Youyao could speak, Jiang Yu'e spoke first, saying, "Second Sister got up late." She's probably busy choosing which outfit to wear. Since it's her first day of study, she takes it very seriously."
Normally, Jiang Youyao would be displeased if Jiang Yu'e interrupted like this, but today she allowed Jiang Yu'e to speak freely.
As soon as Jiang Yu'e finished speaking, another tall girl sneered, "Choosing which outfit? This isn't a beauty contest or imperial consort selection—what's there to choose?"I heard someone saw your family's Second Miss when she first returned to the residence, saying she's quite a delicate beauty too," another young woman tentatively looked at Jiang Youyao. "Is she really that beautiful? I wonder how she compares to you, Youyao?"Although Jiang Youyao could not be considered the most talented or beautiful in Mingyi Hall, those who surpassed her in scholarship could not match her looks, and those more beautiful than her fell short in talent. Combined with Jiang Yuanbai's status and position, Jiang Youyao stood out uniquely in Mingyi Hall.
Jiang Yu'e laughed, "Second Sister is indeed pretty, but having stayed in the mountains for so long, her temperament..." She left the sentence unfinished, yet everyone recalled how Jiang Li had been banished to the nunnery and remained there for eight years.
After eight years in the remote mountains, she was likely nothing more than a country bumpkin. Having just returned to Yanjing, what could she possibly understand?
Even the young girl who had been curious about Jiang Li moments earlier now looked at her with disdain.
The female students of Mingyi Hall judged one another by status, position, appearance, and talent. Those who came here were all treasured pearls of their families, naturally positioned to be unwilling to be outshone. Whenever a newcomer arrived, they would inevitably be compared.
Apart from having a Grand Secretary for a father, Jiang Li had nothing else to recommend her. And even this Grand Secretary father did not seem to care much for her. So, what about Jiang Li was worth noticing?
Just as they were speaking, someone outside—an eager student—shouted, "Second Miss Jiang is here!"
All the female students in the entire academy turned almost in unison to look toward the entrance.
Two young women appeared at the door. The one dressed as a maid was sturdier than the average servant, with skin so dark that the apricot-red maid's dress did not lend her any charm but instead looked somewhat comical. Her movements were more like those of a village girl from the wild mountains.
Though this maid was eye-catching, perhaps because of her absurd appearance, she made the girl beside her seem even more ethereal.
That young girl wore a gentle smile, soothing as a warm mountain breeze that brushes past the heart, leaving one feeling entirely at ease. Her features were just right—delicate yet with a spirited boldness between her brows, lending her tenderness a touch of resilient charm.
"Is that the Second Miss of the Jiang family?" someone whispered. "She doesn't seem like she was raised in the mountains."
On her first day of school, her first time in the unfamiliar Mingyi Hall, facing strangers, this girl showed not a hint of discomfort or timidity. Her poised and graceful demeanor was no worse than anyone else's.
"I think she does seem like she was raised in the mountains," another murmured to her companion, "quite spirited."
"Spirited"—it was an indescribable feeling, something that couldn't be learned in a few extra days of study with a teacher, nor bought with more silver. This girl's eyes were as clear and clean as a spring, sweet and pure.
Even after hearing all those malicious rumors about her, Second Miss Jiang appeared so gentle, pure, and kind-hearted that it was truly difficult to feel any dislike toward her.
The sudden shift in the attitudes of those around them toward Jiang Li was immediately noticed by Jiang Youyao and the others. Jiang Youyao was furious—Jiang Li had not worn any of the dresses Ji Shuran had sent but had instead chosen her own. She was clearly doing it on purpose, deliberately stealing the spotlight!
Jiang Youyao's thoughts were rather unreasonable. If Jiang Li had worn the clothes sent by Ji Shuran, she would have truly stood out. But at this moment, standing out might not be a good thing. Jiang Li's simple and elegant attire complemented her innate temperament perfectly. In this way, her subtle yet striking presence actually elevated her even further.Jiang Yu'e was deeply puzzled. She couldn't understand why, despite Jiang Li's notorious reputation, these students didn't show any signs of disgust when they saw her. Could it be that reputation didn't matter after all?
A slow smile blossomed in Jiang Li's heart.
People's eyes will always miss certain things, and what they cannot see remains hidden from them. Yet most people are willing to believe that what they see represents the whole truth.
Take judging a person's character, for instance—how could one possibly understand someone completely from just a single encounter? What we perceive as understanding is merely another person's judgment.
If she appears to be a good person, then with just a little effort, she might very well become a "good person."
(End of Chapter)
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